Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment in pediatric patients with pars planitis: a single-center experience from Turkey.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-alpha) treatment (Adalimumab [ADA]) combined with immunomodulatory agents (IMAs) in the treatment of pars planitis (PP). METHODS: The patients with PP who were treated with anti-TNF-alpha agents for at least six months were qualified for the chart review. The outcome parameters were the steroid-free remission state, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the central macular thickness (CMT) of the patients at the last visit. RESULTS: After a mean total follow-up time of 15.5 ± 5.8 months (8-24 months), all the cases were in steroid-free remission at the last visit. The mean BCVA increased, and the mean CMT decreased significantly at the last visit (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: ADA combined with IMAs offers effective and safe treatment modalities in the control of chronic intraocular inflammation in PP cases.

Axonal Degeneration Independent of Inflammatory Activity: Is It More Intense in the Early Stages of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Disease?

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate whether there are differences in the axonal degeneration rate between patients in the early years of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) disease and RRMS patients in their later years. METHODS: The early-stage RRMS patients (EMS) group had 65 patients whose duration of disease was within 3 years from the date of the first attack. The late-stage RRMS patients (LMS) group had 69 patients whose duration of disease was within the range of 3-10 years from the date of the first attack. In addition, a control group was composed of 32 healthy subjects. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was monitored with spectral-domain OCT in all included patients for approximately 3 years. RESULTS: The annual RNFL atrophy rate (aRNFLr) in the EMS group was -1.246 ± 0.778 µm/year, the aRNFLr in the LMS group was -0.898 ± 0.536 µm/year, and the aRNFLr was -0.234 ± 0.154 µm/year in the control group (p < 0.001). The aRNFLr in the EMS group was significantly higher than the aRNFLr in the LMS group (p = 0.01). The aRNFLr was not associated with MRI activity or the condition of having an attack. There was a correlation between Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) progression and aRNFLr in both the EMS and LMS patient groups (r = -0.471, p < 0.001, and r = -0.567, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The axonal degeneration rate is faster in RRMS patients in the first years of the disease than in later years. In addition, axonal degeneration occurs independently of inflammatory activity. Axonal degeneration is correlated with disability progression, but not with inflammatory findings, such as clinical episodes and MRI activity.

[The Microbiological Analysis of a Rhizobium radiobacter Outbreak After Intravitreal Injection]. / Intravitreal Enjeksiyon Sonrasi Ortaya Çikan Rhizobium radiobacter Salgininin Mikrobiyolojik Analizi.

Rhizobium radiobacter, which is found in nature and causes tumorigenic plant diseases can lead to opportunistic infections, especially in people with underlying diseases. In our study, endophthalmitis that observed in ten patients caused by R.radiobacter bacteria after intravitreal ranibizumab injection in Ophthalmology Clinic were examined microbiologically. Vitreous fluid samples of 13 patients who received intravitreal ranibizumab injection were sent to the Microbiology Laboratory from Van Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine's Ophthalmology Clinic for microbiological examination in December 21, 2016. Samples were examined under microscope after staining with Gram and cultured with 5% sheep blood agar and Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar. The culture plates were incubated for 18-24 hours at 37°C in 5% CO2. At the end of this period, catalase, oxidase, and urease tests were performed on the colonies. The identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests of microorganisms growing in vitreous fluid samples were performed using BD Phoenix (Becton Dickinson, USA), Vitek 2 Compact (BioMerieux, France), and Vitek MS (BioMerieux, France) systems. In addition, 16S rDNA sequence analysis was performed and the pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method was used to determine the clonal relationship between the isolates. After growing in cultures (one day after the procedure), culture samples were collected from the objects, medical tools and equipment, hands of healthcare staff and a new injection solution in the area where the procedure was performed. R.radiobacter was isolated in 10 of the vitreous fluid samples of 13 patients, and no bacterial growth was detected in 3. The microorganisms were found to be gram-negative bacilli, non-fermenter, motile, catalase/oxidase/urease positive, in compliance with R.radiobacter. All isolates were identified as R.radiobacter by BD Phoenix (Becton Dickinson, USA), Vitek 2 Compact (BioMerieux, France), and Vitek MS (BioMerieux, France) (database v2.0) systems. R.radiobacter isolates were found to be resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole, cefotaxime and ceftazidime; susceptible to cefuroxime, cefepime, amikacin, gentamicin, imipenem, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and piperacillin/tazobactam. The isolates were identified as R.radiobacter by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. PFGE showed that all isolates had the same band profile. R.radiobacter isolates with the same band profile likely revealed that the contamination was from the same source. However, the growth of R.radiobacter was not detected in the cultures made from the objects, medical instruments and supplies, the hands of healthcare professionals and the new injection solution in the area where the procedure was performed, and the source of the agent could not be determined. The results have shown that intravitreal injection procedure carries a risk for R.radiobacter infection. Disinfection and antisepsis conditions, before and during the procedure, is important for the prevention of such infections. This study is the first epidemic outbreak report of endophthalmitis caused by the same strain of R.radiobacter and the second article in which R.radiobacter was reported as the cause of endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection.

Choroid vascularity index as a parameter for chronicity of Fuchs' uveitis syndrome.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) of eyes having Fuchs' uveitis syndrome (FUS) with healthy fellow eyes (N). METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional study included unilateral FUS cases and an age- and gender-matched healthy control group. Thirty-nine participants were included in the FUS group, and 24 age- and gender-matched individuals were randomly selected for the control group. Endothelial cell density (ECD) was measured using Tomey specular microscopy. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used to acquire the choroidal images, and binarization was applied to the images. Two blinded investigators analyzed the CVI in both eyes of the FUS cases and the right eyes of the healthy control group. RESULTS: CVI was found to be significantly decreased in FUS (p < 0.001). Additionally, ECD had a strong positive correlation with CVI (r = 0.383, p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: CVI may provide information about the chronicity of the disease.

Comparison of the efficacy of accelerated corneal cross-linking therapy in different pediatric age groups having progressive keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To report a comparison analysis of accelerated corneal cross-linking (A-CXL) treatment for progressive keratoconus patients in different pediatric age groups. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional. METHODS: Patients with progressive keratoconus aged ≤ 18 were retrospectively reviewed. Forty-one eyes of 41 patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to their age (≤ 14 years and 15-18 years). All patients underwent epithelium-off A-CXL protocol. Acquired data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean age was 14.3 ± 1.8 (10-18) years. Twenty-five (61%) of the participants were male, and 16 (39%) were female. Twenty (49%) patients were separated into group 1 (≤ 14 years of age), and 21 (51%) were in group 2 (15-18 years). Age at presentation was found to be the only factor in anticipating the progression of keratoconus at the second postoperative year visit (p < 0.001). Progression in keratometric values was detected in seven (35%) of the 20 eyes in group 1, and one (4%) of the 21 patients in group 2 (Z = - 2.44, p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Even if proper treatment is applied, the progression of keratoconus is likely in patients younger than 14 years of age. Instead of evaluating pediatric patients as a whole, closer follow-up and early treatment may be useful in younger age groups (≤ 14 years).

In vivo analysis and comparison of anterior segment structures of both eyes in unilateral Fuchs' uveitis syndrome.

PURPOSE: To compare corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), iris stromal thickness (IST), iris pigment epithelium optical density (IPE OD), and Schlemm's canal (SC) measurements in patients having unilateral Fuchs' uveitis syndrome (FUS). METHODS: This is a randomized, prospective study. Currently, diagnosed unilateral FUS and phakic cases were defined to be the inclusion criteria to the study. The specular microscope was used to measure ECD. Anterior segment images were acquired by using SD-OCT. The images were extracted and uploaded to the ImageJ program for further analysis. Two blinded investigators analyzed the IST, IPE OD, and SC area in both healthy (N) and affected eyes (FUS) and the comparative analysis was made by using SPSS program. RESULTS: Of twenty-one participants, 13 were female (62%). The mean age of the participants was 30 ± 9 (18-47) years. ECD was 2228 ± 365 and 2513 ± 209 cells/mm2 in the FUS and N, respectively (p < 0,001). In FUS, the mean nasal and temporal (n-t) IST was measured as 380 ± 44 and 347 ± 41 µm, compared to 393 ± 61 and 355 ± 62 µm in N, respectively (p = 0.3 and p = 0.4 respectively). The mean n-t IPE OD was measured as 1110 ± 499 and 937 ± 370 in FUS, compared to 1147 ± 528 and 1267 ± 428 in N, respectively (p = 0.008 temporal). The mean n-t SC area was measured as 5479 ± 1951 and 5624 ± 2722 µm2 in FUS, compared to 5736 ± 2574 and 5633 ± 1835 µm2 in N, respectively (p = 0.9 and p = 0.7 respectively). CONCLUSION: Decreased ECD in FUS may lead to serious complications after cataract surgery. Temporal IPE depigmentation occurs prior to the nasal side in FUS.

Posttraumatic Oculorrhea From the Eyelid.

We report a 21-month-old boy with a sutured laceration of the left upper eyelid with drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. Careful evaluation, including computerized tomography, revealed a penetrating injury of the left orbital wall and a linear bone fracture. The wound was resutured carefully. There was no cerebrospinal fluid leakage in the postoperative follow-up period.

The association between retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and corpus callosum index in different clinical subtypes of multiple sclerosis.

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the association between physical disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, the thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and corpus callosum volumes, as expressed by the corpus callosum index (CCI). This study was based on a cohort of 212 MS patients and 52 healthy control subjects, who were age and gender matched. The MS patients included 144 women and 177 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients. Peripapillary and volumetric optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans of the macula were performed using spectral-domain OCT technology. All magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed using 1.5-T systems. CCI and RNFL were lower in MS than healthy control subjects (0.341 versus 0.386, p < 0.01 and 92.1 versus 105.0, p < 0.01). In addition, CCI correlated with RNFL (r = 0.464, p < 0.01). This was also true for the subgroup of patients with no history of optic neuritis (ON). There is a correlation between the thickness of the RNFL and CCI values in MS patients with no history of ON, which suggests that OCT might be a suitable marker for neurodegeneration in MS clinical trials.

Comparison of Heidelberg Retina Tomograph-3 glaucoma probability score and Moorfields regression analysis of optic nerve head in glaucoma patients and healthy individuals.

PURPOSE: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of Moorfields regression analysis (MRA) and glaucoma probability score (GPS) between healthy and glaucomatous eyes with Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph 3 (HRT-3). METHODS: The study included 120 eyes of 75 glaucoma patients and 138 eyes of 73 normal subjects, for a total of 258 eyes of 148 individuals. All measurements were performed with the HRT-3. Diagnostic test criteria (sensitivity, specificity, etc.) were used to evaluate how efficiently GPS and MRA algorithms in the HRT-3 discriminated between the glaucoma and control groups. RESULTS: The GPS showed 88 % sensitivity and 66 % specificity, whereas MRA had 71.5 % sensitivity and 82.5 % specificity. There was 71 % agreement between the final results of MRA and GPS in the glaucoma group. Excluding borderline patients from both analyses resulted in 91.6 % agreement. In the control group the level of agreement between MRA and GPS was 64 % including borderline patients and 84.1 % after excluding borderline patients. The accuracy rate is 92 % for MRA and 91 % for GPS in the glaucoma group excluding borderline patients. The difference was nor statistically different. In both cases, agreement was higher between MRA and GPS in the glaucoma group. We found that both sensitivity and specificity increased with disc size for MRA, while the sensitivity increased and specificity decreased with larger disc sizes for GPS. CONCLUSIONS: HRT is able to quantify and clearly reveal structural changes in the ONH and RNFL in glaucoma.

Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch Syndrome With Bilateral Tarsal Kink: Three Sutures for Correction.

The authors describe a 5-month-old male infant with Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome, which is an extremely rare condition. He had tarsal kink in upper eyelids in both eyes. The authors treated bilateral tarsal kink with an everting suture via a transconjunctival approach under local anesthesia.

Epidemiology of Open Globe Injury in Children.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology and outcomes of pediatric open globe injury (OGI). METHOD: The medical records of all patients diagnosed with OGI in the authors' clinic between 1996 and 2015 were screened retrospectively. A total of 893 eyes of 892 patients aged 16 years or younger were included in the study. Open globe injury was classified according to the ocular trauma classification (OTS). Age, sex, history, cause and month of trauma, treatment received, visual acuity at presentation, final visual acuity, and cause of vision loss were recorded. RESULTS: Children aged 16 years or younger comprised 67.7% of all OGI patients within the studied time period. The annual incidence of OGI in children was 5.16 per 100,000 overall, with 6.12 per 100,000 boys and 4.14 per 100,000 girls. Open globe injuries occurred most frequently in the 3 to 7 year age group and in the summer months. The most common scene of injury was playgrounds (50.2%). A strong, linear, negative correlation was found between OTS values and final visual acuity in logMAR (rp = -0.550, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The authors' study revealed that a high proportion of all OGIs in the authors' region occurred in children under 17 years old. As with adults, OGI in children often results in significant vision loss. However, considering the varying degrees of visual recovery demonstrated by some of the authors' patients, particularly those with no light perception at admission, the authors believe an eye-sparing approach is warranted in pediatric OGI.

Epidemiology of Adult Open Globe Injury.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology and outcomes of adult open globe injuries (OGI) in the eastern part of Turkey. METHODS: The retrospective study included all the patients who were diagnosed with OGI (436 eyes in 425 patients) at our clinic between 1997 and 2015. The OGI patients aged over 16 years were included into the study. Open globe injuries were classified according to the Ocular Trauma Classification. Age, gender, medical history, time between trauma and hospital admission, and mechanism of injury were recorded for each patient. RESULTS: The incidence of OGI in adults was found to be 3.40/100,000, with 5.00/100,000 in males and 1.67/100,000 in females. Open globe injuries were mostly seen in the age group of 17 to 29 years and in October and November. The patients included 79.5% males and 20.5% females. Intraocular foreign body was detected in 99 (22.7%) eyes. A strong, linear, negative correlation was found between the Ocular Trauma Classification values and final visual LogMAR (rp = -0.602, P = 0.0001). The most common mechanism of injury was occupational accident (38.4%). CONCLUSION: Open globe injuries remain a serious public health problem, resulting in significant vision loss. Open globe injuries are mostly seen in the young, middle-aged, and male working population. Additional preventive measures should be taken for the individuals in these groups.

Comparative results of use and switching of anti-TNF-alpha agents in adult Behçet's uveitis.

PURPOSE: This study was planned to compare the clinical results and optical coherence tomography (OCT) data of patients who underwent adalimumab (ADA), infliximab (IFX) and switched protocols between these two methods in cases of Behçet's associated uveitis (BAU). METHODS: The patients with BAU who were treated with anti-TNF- α agents for at least one year were qualified for the chart review. The outcome parameters were the steroid-free remission state, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the central macular thickness (CMT), and the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) of the patients at the last visit. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 16.60 months, the rate of active inflammation decreased from 63.6% to 15.1%. Mean BCVA increased, mean CMT and mean SFCT decreased significantly at the last visit ( P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Anti-TNF- α treatment and switching protocols between these two agents effectively and safely control intraocular inflammation in BAU patients.

Assessment of metacognition and retinal optical coherence tomography findings in shift workers.

It is known that working in the shift system, especially the night shift, affects physical, mental, and social well-being. We investigated the changes in the inner retinal layers and choroidal layer of the eyes of nurses working night and day shifts using optical coherence tomography (OCT). We also explored the effect of night shift work on metacognition and the relationships between these variables. A total of 79 nurses participated in the study, of whom 40 worked night shifts. The researcher gave the participants sociodemographic information and the Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30) form. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness, inner nuclear layer (INL) thickness, inner plexiform layer (IPL) thickness, central macular thickness (CMT), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were measured with OCT. It was found that the level of metacognitive activity associated with cognitive confidence was higher (p = 0.044) for nurses who worked night shifts and that the level of metacognitive activity associated with cognitive awareness was lower (p = 0.015) for nurses who worked night shifts. RNFL-nasal superior (NS) thickness was lower in night shift workers than the day shift group (p = 0.017). Our study revealed significant relationships between metacognition and the OCT findings among night and day shift workers. Our study revealed that RNFL measurements and metacognitive activity may differ and there may be a relationship between these parameters in nurses who work shifts. Further research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of night shift work on retinal health.

Comparison of central corneal thickness in corneal edema by ultrasound pachymetry, specular microscopy, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare ultrasound pachymetry Ultrasound pachymetry (UP), specular microscopy (SM), and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) in the measurement of central corneal thickness (CCT) in cases of corneal edema before and after uncomplicated phacoemulsification. METHODS: Preoperative pachymetric measurements were performed in all patients before cataract surgery. Sixty -seven patients who developed corneal edema after routine faoemulsification surgery were included in the study. CCT measurements were made the day before surgery and on the 1st, 7th, and 14th days after surgery. Correlation and agreement between the devices were quantified with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), limits of agreement, and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 70.99 ± 9.56 (36-92) years. While CCT could be measured in all eyes with ASOCT after surgery, the number of eyes measured with UP and SM were 24 (11.7%) and 27 (16.1%), 55 (82.1%) and 52 (77.6%), and 46 (88.8%) and 45 (86.9%) on postoperative days 1, 7, and 14, respectively. ICC values between UP and SM, UP and ASOCT, and SM and ASOCT, respectively, were: preoperative 0.91, 0.94, and 0.92; 1st postoperative day 0.93, 0.86, and 0.93; 7th postoperative day 0.94, 0.85, and 0.96; and 14th postoperative day 0.95, 0.92, and 0.96. CONCLUSION: In all eyes with corneal edema, CCT measurements can be taken with ASOCT; however, in some cases, CCT measurements with SM and UP cannot be taken. However, there is a good correlation between measurements taken with these devices.

A novel spot mutation leading to sialidosis type 1-myoclonus syndrome and optical coherence tomography findings.

This report presents the optical coherence tomography findings and a new NEU1 mutation in bilateral macular cherry-red spot syndrome associated with sialidosis type 1. A 19-year-old patient with a macular cherry-red spot underwent metabolic and genetic analyses supported by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Fundus examination revealed bilateral macular cherry-red spot. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography revealed increased hyperreflectivity in the retinal inner layers and the photoreceptor layer in the foveal region. The genetic analysis detected a new NEU1 mutation, which caused type I sialidosis. In cases with a macular cherry-red spot, sialidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis, and NEU1 mutation should be screened. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography alone is not sufficient in the differential diagnosis because childhood metabolic diseases may exhibit similar signs.

Comparison of both eyes anterior segment structures of patients with unilateral blunt trauma.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) data in patients with unilateral blunt ocular trauma (BOT), to determine the relationship of results with hyphema development. METHODS: 21 patients who received unilateral BOT were included in the study. Healthy eyes of patients were included in the control group. Iris stromal thickness (IST), schlemm canal area (SCA) and pupil diameter were measured by AS-OCT of the participants. In addition, eyes with ocular trauma were divided into those with and without hyphema and compared in terms of these parameters. RESULTS: The mean nasal and temporal (n-t) IST was measured as 373± 40 µm and 369 ± 35 µm in BOT in comparison with 344 ± 35 µm and 335 ± 36 µm in control eyes, respectively (p = 0.000 and p = 0.001, respectively). The mean nasal and temporal (n-t) SCA was measured as 12,571 ± 880 µm2 and 12,162 ± 1181 µm2 in developed hyphema in comparison with 10,455 ± 1506 µm2 and 10,188 ± 939 µm2 in did not develop hyphema, respectively (p = 0.016 and p = 0.002 respectively). CONCLUSION: The ISTs of the traumatized eyes in the nasal and temporal quadrants were statistically thicker than the other healthy eyes. SCA in both nasal and temporal quadrants of eyes with hyphema was statistically significantly larger than the group without hyphema.

The Effect of Blindness on Biological Rhythms and the Consequences of Circadian Rhythm Disorder.

Various physiological systems and behaviors such as the sleep-wake cycle, vigilance, body temperature, and the secretion of certain hormones are governed by a 24-hour cycle called the circadian system. While there are many external stimuli involved the regulation of circadian rhythm, the most powerful environmental stimulus is the daily light-dark cycle. Blind individuals with no light perception develop circadian desynchrony. This leads to non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder, which is associated with sleep-wake disorders, as well as mood disorders and loss of appetite and gastrointestinal disturbances due to disrupted circadian hormone regulation. As the diagnosis is often delayed because of under-recognition in clinical practice, patients must cope with varying degrees of social and academic dysfunction. Most blind individuals report that non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder affects them more than blindness. In the treatment of totally blind patients suffering from non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder, the first-line management is behavioral approaches. Drug therapy includes melatonin and the melatonin agonist tasimelteon. Diagnosing blind individuals' sleep disorders is also relevant to treatment because they can be improved with the use of melatonin and its analogues or by phototherapy if they have residual vision. Therefore, assessing sleep problems and planning treatment accordingly for individuals presenting with blindness is an important issue for ophthalmologists to keep in mind.

Cerebral perfusion in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A preliminary study with MR perfusion.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with altered cerebral vasoreactivity, cognitive impairment, and functional decline. Magnetic Resonance (MR) perfusion can be used to assess cerebral blood flow (CBF). The aim of this study is to analyze the association between diabetes mellitus and cerebral perfusion. METHODS: The study included 52 patients diagnosed with T2DM and 39 healthy individuals. The diabetic patients were classified into three groups (PRP: proliferative retinopathy, NPRP: non-proliferative retinopathy, Non-RP: non-retinopathy DM). The rCBF measurements of cortical gray matter and thalami were carried out using the region of interest. Reference quantitative measurements were performed from ipsilateral white matter. RESULTS: The comparison between the T2DM group and the control group revealed that rCBF values of bilateral frontal lobes, cingulate gyrus, medial temporal lobe, thalami and right occipital lobe were measured to be significantly lower in the T2DM group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was detected between the two groups in terms of rCBF values of the left occipital lobe and anterior aspect of the left temporal lobe (p > 0.05). The rCBF values were lower in the anterior aspect of the right temporal lobe and the difference showed borderline statistical significance (p = 0.058). No significant difference was detected regarding mean rCBF values measured in the regions of cerebral hemispheres among the three patient groups with T2DM (p˃0.05). CONCLUSION: Regional hypoperfusion was encountered in most of the lobes in the T2DM group when compared with the healthy group. However, in terms of rCBF values, there was no significant difference among the three groups with T2DM.